Breasts and Protests

Near the end of The O’Reilly Factor, Bill O’Reilly has a portion of his show that he calls: “Pinheads and Patriots”. People who engage in unscrupulous behavior are labeled “pinheads”, while those who participate in conscientious principled activity earn the title “patriot” from the host. I usually agree with the decisions that are made on “The Factor” during this segment.

However, last week, Bill O’Reilly gave consideration to topless protestors for the “patriot” honor. Even though I value every American’s right to protest and speak their mind, I do believe people should conduct themselves with dignity when expressing their views. People do not always have to agree, but they should demonstrate respect for others while communicating their worldviews, thoughts and opinions.

Proverbs 5:1-2 says, “My son/daughter, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, (2) that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.”

A female who exposes her breasts while protesting is not practicing discretion.

I took the liberty to exercise my freedom of speech concerning this topic by sending The O’Reilly Factor Show a poem via email. Whether you agree or disagree with my sentiments, I hope you will enjoy and appreciate my rare moment of inspired creative poetic dictation. I tried to keep it pithy.

Hey Bill,

Since I love your show
I felt compelled to let you know

I respect a woman’s breast
And value our right to protest

But giving people a peek
While exercising your freedom to speak

Is not acting very discreet
During a rally on a public street

In the “no spin zone” it should be said
That such behavior will label you a “pinhead”

The Factor can find “Patriots” who are more true
In the land of the red, white and blue

Bill, I hope you understand my view
And know I’m just looking out for you

Are You a Builder?

Have you ever played legos with a young child? If so, I am confident you quickly observed that they are much better at tearing down the legos than building them into something constructive. While playing legos with my boys a few years back, I had a profound revelation.

As I would take the individual pieces and build them into a skyscraper, plane or car, they would grab my work of art and smash it into pieces. I received more joy out of building the legos into some type of object, while they found pleasure in destroying my creation. Sitting on the floor watching my boys reap havoc on the legos, I realized mature people build while immature people tear down.

In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Apostle Paul addressed the saints as mere infants in Christ. Why did he call them infants? The saints at Corinth were allowing their issues, selfish agendas and jealousy to cause quarrels, division and strife. Apostle Paul knew they were immature because they were tearing down one another instead of building each other up.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Apostle Paul writes, “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?”

Mature people build others up while immature people tear others down.

Apostle Paul knew this firsthand. Before his conversion, Apostle Paul was known as Saul who persecuted Christians and lived to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, Saul was an immature man who lived to tear others down. After he received Jesus as His Lord and Savior, Apostle Paul grew in the grace and knowledge of his Lord. The new Apostle Paul was now a mature builder of Christ’s church.

In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 he writes, “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Mature people build while immature people tear down. Are you a builder?

God the Builder!

Do you know that anything in life that is great takes a long time to build?

Great marriages are not built overnight. If you want to raise Godly children, it takes at least eighteen years of parental investment to make this happen. Successful businesses, according to Jim Collins in the book “Good to Great”, are built after many years of hard work. A house well built takes longer to finish than one that is built poorly.

As you walk close with God, you discover that He is a builder. In fact, I am convinced that if God had another name it would be Bob. Why? I believe this because, like Bob, our God is a builder.

What is God ultimately building?

God is building His Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven through the institution of the church. In the gospel of Matthew, he informs us that God’s plan to build His church was revealed to Peter in a conversation with Jesus.

Matthew 16:13-18 says, “13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[b] the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,[c] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[d] will not overcome it.”

As a builder, it is God’s intention to conquer evil in the world through constructing a strong and vibrant church that delivers His message and fulfills His will on earth. This is the reason why it is so important for every Christ-follower to be a member of a local church. As each Christ-follower serves in their local church, a full representation of Jesus is manifested on earth. Every believer in Jesus has a role and responsibility to participate in the building plan of God.

Can God fix the evil in the world, yes He can!

Are you joining God in advancing His Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven by serving faithfully in a local church?

Expect a Greater Reward

At the end of his life while facing certain death in prison, Apostle Paul had a confident expectation that he would receive a great reward for his apostolic work. Living life to please God, with an eternal perspective that there is a reward for faithfulness, is imperative for all who want to persevere well.

While working as a strength coach at Florida State University, the men's basketball coaching staff added mat drills to our pre-season training regimen. The main goal we wanted to accomplish during mat drills was to develop mental toughness in our players.

After a morning session of mat drills, I had an interesting conversation with one of our players in the weight room. The player, who absolutely loved the game of basketball, communicated to me that he would quit if we did mat drills every day. I encouraged him that his hard work would pay off at game time. Our dialogue that mat drills were better preparing him to play with excellence in his games was the only thought that gave him hope.

We will continue to endure hardship when we know there is a future reward for our labor. Apostle Paul reminded Timothy that the expectation of receiving an eternal reward made all the suffering in ministry well worth the hardships.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 says, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Are you expecting to receive a crown of righteousness in heaven?

Endure Hardship

Why would Apostle Paul have to encourage Timothy to endure hardship?

The reason is he knew firsthand people would oppose the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is interesting to note that Apostle Paul referred to the times when he was writing to Timothy as the last days. Unfortunately, godlessness would be prevalent in those days.

2 Timothy 4:3-5 says, "3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

It seems not much has changed in over 2,000 years. Just tune in to the evening news and it is obvious that America is suffering from a lack of moral clarity. Relativism in our postmodern culture is the worldview of popular opinion. The only thing many people are convinced of is that there is no absolute truth.

If you want to participate in activity that is evil or immoral according to the Holy Scriptures, it is not hard to find somebody who will tell you such behavior is okay. Even professing believers in Jesus bounce from church to church in search of a situation that will make them the most comfortable. High moral standards, faithfulness and service are lost virtues in a society that lives for individual comfort and pleasure.

How do you respond to a culture that rejects truth, and people who live to please their own selfish desires?

You endure hardship and remain patient while speaking the truth in love. You continue to pour out your life while delivering the message of Jesus to people. Remaining faithful to the mission is not an easy task. It is so difficult that many co-laborers had deserted Apostle Paul over the years.

2 Timothy 4:9-10, 14-15 says, "9Do your best to come to me quickly, 10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. 14Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message."

Are you a patient and persevering person, or do you tend to give up quickly?